'I will not hold my tongue,' she answered hotly. 'You know how good, and gentle, and forbearing father is, how ready he is to give everything to his children, how unwilling to say to any one a harsh word, and you take advantage of his good nature; you, that should be building up the house, are tearing it down on the heads of all of us, father, Kate, Patience, Joe, Willy—down to little Temperance, all, all!'
'That is right, Honor, comb his head with a rake and the locks will lie smooth.'
Both Honor and Charles looked up. Hillary stood before them in the doorway. The girl had turned her face to her brother, and had not observed his approach. She was ill-pleased at his arrival. She wished no stranger to inter-meddle with her family troubles.
'You here?' exclaimed Charles, starting to one knee. 'Mr. Larry Nanspian, I owe you something, and I shall repay it when the occasion comes. Not now, though I have a mind to it, because I have a headache. But I can order you off the premises. Get along, or I'll kick you.'
Larry gave a contemptuous shrug with his shoulders, and looked to Honor.
'Well, Honor, have you a good-morning for me?'
'I have ordered you off the premises,' shouted Charles.
'Shall I pitch him into the road again?' asked Larry of the girl.
Then Honor said, 'I did not ask your help yesterday, and I do not seek your interference now.'
Charles burst into a rude laugh. 'You have your answer, Mr. Larry,' he said; 'about face and away with you, and learn that there is one girl in the place whose head you have not turned.'